Facebook row turns abusive

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A Wanaka man appeared in the Queenstown District Court yesterday after a Facebook exchange spiralled out of control.

Trevor David Riddell, 38, a labourer, was charged with threatening to kill two people in Invercargill on June 12.

Sergeant Ian Collin said an argument started on Facebook while Riddell was at home in Wanaka and the victims were in Invercargill. The content of the argument was not discussed in court.

Collin said the argument turned abusive and Riddell called police to say he believed another party was heading to his house in Wanaka.

He said he was going to shoot the other party in the face and knees, he had loaded firearms and the other party was "going to die".

A police communications call-taker spent six minutes on the phone with Riddell as he yelled and verbally abused Wanaka police. He said he had an SKS, a semi-automatic rifle, and was going into town to do some damage, the court was told.

Judge Michael Turner remanded Riddell on bail for sentence on September 8, and called for alcohol and drug reports.